Archive for the ‘All Posts’ Category

Reduce Neck Pain and Improve Functional Movement: The Benefits of Exercising the Tongue During Pilates Exercises

Have you ever thought about what your tongue is doing during exercise?  Do you realize that what your tongue is doing in your mouth can really make a difference for improving Pilates exercise technique, reducing neck tension and neck pain, and improving functional movement?

If you or your Pilates clients are interested in:  Better breathing habits, reducing neck pain / neck tension, improving the execution of exercises that articulate the spine, freeing up the whole body for flow and ease of functional movement.  Then I recommend that you play with, introduce, and think about what the tongue is doing in your mouth during a workout.

Pilates Exercises Can Improve Your Whole-Body Health & Sex Life

How great to see Pilates getting some good press in the Huffington Post.  Did you know that Pilates can help you increase strength and flexibility, improve your posture, enhance focus and concentration, and even improve your sex life!  It’s true.

Health Tips: Food Allergy Awareness Alert

  • Do you have food allergies? 
  • Are you even aware of the foods that bother you? 
  • Have you ever had scratch tests, or blood tests to identify the foods & chemicals that might be causing an allergic reaction in your system?
  • Are you sick & tired of feeling sick & tired?
  • Do you suffer from any chronic health issues?

After the experience I have had recently to identify my personal food allergies, I believe that everyone should consider being tested for food allergies. 

Pilates Breathing Tips To Decompress the Spine, Reduce Neck Pain, & Improve Posture

Are your current breathing habits helping you stay healthy, or potentially causing back pain, shoulder pain or neck pain?  Is your current breath pattern helping improve your posture with every breath you take?

Breathing is something we take for granted.  It happens automatically to keep us alive.  Inhaling is the first thing we do when we’re born, and exhaling is the last things we do when we die.  Every minute, of every day  for our entire life, our heart beats to pump life nourishing blood through our system, and our lungs and diaphragm work to provide oxygen to our blood & cells.

It’s nice to know that we don’t have to think really hard to keep breathing and stay alive, but better breathing habits definitely have added benefits to improve our health. 

These Pilates Breathing Tips Can Help:
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Bagoas Belly Dancing: An Amazing Display of Core Strength, Ab Work, Rhythm, & Flowing Movement

Can Your Abs Do This?

A friend of mine who is an avid belly dancer shared this video with me.  I have to say, gender is irrelevant.  Bagoas know who Bagoas is!  Whether you are male or female…  Can Your Abs do this? 

Help for Plantar Fasciitis, Flat Feet, & Reducing Foot Pain

Yamuna foot savers are one of the most fabulous foot care products ever invented!  These easy to use foot fitness products can do amazing things to help reduce foot pain and improve your posture, body alignment, and health.  If you are challenged with arch pain, heel pain, flat feet, foot cramps, plantar fasciitis, or other foot problems, getting a pair of Yamuna Foot Savers and using them regularly can really help make a difference for how your feet feel.

5 Quick Pilates Training Tips To Improve Ab Strength and Increase Back Flexibility for the Roll Up Exercise in Pilates Matwork

It seems that many Pilates students struggle with doing a great Roll Up during their Mat workouts. Whether you’re a brand new beginner, or have been doing Pilates for years, coordinating the timing, breath, ab muscles working, and back releasing all at the right time for an easy, smooth Roll Up can be a challenge, but it’s not an impossible task.  Everybody can have a strong & flexible center that easily articulates for a great Roll Up!

If you’re participating in Matwork classes and doing Private or Group Training on the Pilates equipment, there are many  Pilates equipment exercises that can help you find the right muscles and improve your technique to make your Roll Up easier.  But what if you’re only doing Matwork?

A Fantastic Feet Toe Stretch to Help Reduce Toe Pain and Foot Pain

Improve the Mobility of your Toes.  Activate, Lift, & Strengthen the Arch of Your Foot.  Help Improve Gait and Foot Action to Walk & Run Faster and Farther with Happy, Healthy Feet.

How flexible is your Foot?  Do your toes bend easily in each direction?  Can you stand or kneel and tuck your toes way under to be securely balanced on the balls of your feet?  How far do your toes bend the other direction to point, like a ballerina in a toe shoe?  Do you run or walk and have stiff ankles and tight muscles in your feet & toes?  Do your feet cramp up a lot and leave you hopping around with calf cramps or foot pain?  Do you have Hammer Toes that fold and buckle from the middle of the toe joints rather than bending from where the toes meet the foot? 

The Benefits of Using a Fitness Journal to Track Your Exercise Consistency

Have you ever used a Fitness Journal to log your exercise and fitness workouts?  It can be so helpful to keep an exercise log to document your progress and help keep you accountable to reach the goals you’ve set for improving your health & wellness.  Workout tracking works!  Put this great exercise motivation tool to work for you. 

Ask Yourself the Following Questions About Your Exercise Habits:
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Pilates Mat Workout to Improve Flexibility

 “True flexibility can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.”

Joseph H. Pilates

As I was chatting with a gal in my triathlon training program today, she began asking me questions about Pilates, and the difference between Pilates and Yoga.  As a triathlete, she made the comment that she runs, bikes, swims, and does some weight training, but had never really worked much on her flexibility, and is now realizing that she needs to do something to improve it.   She wondered which would be better to do for improving flexibility – Yoga or Pilates? 

Free Resources From Centerworks For Pilates • Foot Fitness • Whole Body Health. Go To Download Directory.